Chapter 235
"Stop acting so high and mighty! You're nothing but an unwanted bastard! What right do you have to hit me? Let me tell you, this isn't over! We're not done! I'm going to ruin you! I'll make you kneel and beg me!"
Faced with Allegra's crazed threats, Lucinda didn't even bother to spare her half a glance.
She elegantly tossed the paper towel into the trash, brushed past Allegra's shoulder, unlocked the door, and walked out.
Meanwhile, on the second-floor VIP corridor.
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas, along with the Sharp family members, emerged from the private room with grim expressions.
The commotion between Hestia and Dahlia in the restroom had clearly soured the elders' moods to the extreme.
"Mr. Douglas! Mrs. Douglas! What a coincidence running into you here!"
Just then, a voice dripping with flattery rang out.
Preston and Gemma appeared out of nowhere, blocking the Douglases' path.
They'd originally been waiting here hoping to run into Lucinda and sweet-talk her.
But instead of Lucinda, they'd stumbled upon someone even more important—the Douglas family!
If they could establish a connection with the Douglases, the Wipere family would be saved!
At that thought, Preston's face broke into an ingratiating smile. Bowing and scraping, he hurriedly pulled out a box of premium cigarettes from his pocket, hands trembling as he tried to offer them. "Mr. Douglas, I'm from the Wipere Group…"
Wesley's brow furrowed. He didn't even bother to look at him.
Valencia, standing beside him, froze the moment she recognized their faces. Her normally gentle expression turned to ice.
The Wipere family.
These were the people who'd taken in her biological daughter, Cindy, all those years ago—only to treat her like a servant, beating and berating her while doting on their adopted daughter.
Valencia thought of the information she'd uncovered, of all the suffering her precious daughter had endured in the Wipere household. Her heart felt like it was being twisted with a knife.
Gemma remained oblivious, plastering on a smile. "Mrs. Douglas, the Wipere Group has always looked up to the Douglas family. What a stroke of fate running into you today! Would you perhaps consider—"
"Get lost."
One word cut Gemma off mid-sentence.
Valencia stepped forward, her eyes filled with hatred.
She stared coldly at the mercenary couple before her, her voice carrying the full authority of a top-tier matriarch. "Don't you understand plain language? I said get out of my sight. Now."
Preston's hand froze mid-air, cigarette box still extended. Gemma's smile stiffened instantly.
They were completely baffled.
They had no idea how they'd offended this usually reclusive wife of the nation's richest man.
"Mrs. Douglas, is… is there some misunderstanding?" Preston's face went pale. He stammered, trying to explain.
"Security." Wesley didn't even bother listening to another word. He raised his hand. Black-suited bodyguards stationed along the corridor immediately closed in. "From now on, I don't want to see these faces anywhere in Starlight City. Throw them out."
Valencia let out a cold snort. She didn't spare them even a sidelong glance. Holding Wesley's arm, she walked past them without breaking stride.
Preston tried to say something, but a bodyguard's hand was already clamping down on his shoulder blade.
"Please, this way."
Preston stumbled backward. The cigarette box fell from his hand and rolled across the floor.
Gemma tried to speak, but meeting Valencia's icy gaze, the words died in her throat.
Two bodyguards flanked them on either side and escorted them toward the end of the corridor.
"Mrs. Douglas! Mrs. Douglas, please listen to me—"
Gemma turned back desperately, but Wesley and Valencia didn't slow their steps for even a moment.
The couple was unceremoniously thrown out of the club.
The night wind hit them, sending a chill through Gemma's body.
They stood on the steps outside the club entrance, staring at the traffic-filled street, unsure where to go.
"Preston…" Gemma gripped his sleeve, her voice shaky. "What… what do we do now?"
Preston didn't respond.
He stood on the steps in silence for a long while before suddenly speaking. "Go see your mother."
Gemma blinked. "What?"
"Your mother's at the nursing home." Preston turned to look at her, a calculating gleam flickering in his eyes. "She raised Lucinda for twenty years. That girl might not listen to anyone else, but she can't ignore your mother. If your mother's willing to speak up for us, put in a good word…"
Gemma's eyes lit up. "Right! Mom!"
She clapped her hands. "I'm her real daughter! She can't just stand by and watch the Wipere family collapse!"
Without another word, they hailed a cab and headed straight for the nursing home.
When they arrived, Preston paid the fare and looked up at the entrance.
In the night, the white building stood quietly beneath the lights. Two streetlamps illuminated the sign clearly: "Starlight City South District Nursing Home."
Gemma hurried up the steps in her heels.
"Stop! This is private property. No unauthorized entry!"
The guard's voice was cold and unyielding.
Seeing herself blocked, Gemma immediately threw a fit at the gate. She grabbed the iron bars and shook them violently, shrieking, "Open your eyes and look carefully! I'm the biological daughter of Mrs. Adams, who's staying inside! I'm here to see my own mother! What right do you have to stop me? Get out of my way! Believe me, I'll file a complaint and get you all fired!"
Preston also rushed forward, putting on airs as he barked, "I'm the president of the Wipere Group! The woman inside is my mother-in-law! If you know what's good for you, open this gate immediately!"
But no matter how much they yelled, the guards remained stone-faced, not even lifting an eyelid.
"What's all this commotion?"
Just then, a stern voice rang out.
Martin, the nursing home's director, emerged from the main building with several senior staff members, his expression grim.
Gemma saw someone in charge and immediately latched onto hope. "Sir! You came at just the right time! Are your guards brain-dead? I'm here to see my mother, and they dared to block me! Fire them right now!"
Martin walked to the gate. Through the iron bars, he looked coldly at the couple—who resembled a shrewish madwoman and a vulgar thug.
"Fire them?" Martin's voice was ice-cold. "You two are mistaken. Forget them—even I wouldn't dare let you in today."
Preston froze, his heart sinking. "What… what do you mean? My mother-in-law is recovering inside. Why can't we see her?"
Martin let out a cold snort. "Why? Because our nursing home's owner personally issued a direct order today. From this moment forward, everyone affiliated with the Wipere Group is blacklisted. Forever and ever, you are not permitted to set foot in this nursing home!"
"What?" Gemma shrieked as if struck by lightning. "Owner? Who's your owner? Why are they targeting the Wipere family? Bring them out here to see me!"
Martin looked at her foolish, doomed expression, the mockery at the corners of his mouth deepening.
He enunciated each word clearly, his voice echoing at the gate. "Our nursing home's owner is named Lucinda Wipere."
It was like a bolt of lightning striking directly overhead, exploding above Preston and Gemma!